Form-retaining appliance for wearing apparel



July'2, 1940. A. 'CHERNE 2,206,161

FORM RETAINING APPLIANCE FOR WEARING APPAREL Filed March 22, 1958 nwvswfom HBRFIHHM QHERNE HTTISRNEY when not in wear. It is known that there is a T Patented July 2, 1940 UNITED STATES land, assignor to Roll-Tainer PATENT OFFlCE FORM-RETAINING APPLIANCE FOR WEARING APPAREL 1 Abraham Chern, Cricklewood, London, Eng- (Proprietary) Limited, Hatton Garden, London, England, a company of Great Britai T T Application March 22, 1938, Serial No. 197,321 T In Great Britain April 8, 1937 l 3 Claims. (01. 223-44) This invention relates to an appliance for preserving the shape of coats and similar garments tendency for the lapels or revers of a coat to become deformed and this tendency is particularly noticeable in cheaper grade materials.

When a number of coats or the like are placed on hangers on a common rail in cupboardswor T the like there is a tendency for the garments to be crushed or pressed tightly together. crushing or pressing spoils the garment in that itTdestroys the roll in the lapel or revers which it is always desirable to maintain. In some in stances one or more lapels or revers actually become folded down which is a great disadvantage. T

T The object of the present invention is to provide an appliance which will protect the lapels or revers of coats and other similar garments and tend to keep them in proper shape. T

T An appliance for preserving the shape of coats and similar garments made according to the T present; invention comprises a strip of material and a lapel engaging tongue formed integral with the strip of material by suitably cutting the material, whereby the appliance can be fitted between the lapel and the coat so that the said tongue engages over the top edge of the lapel whilst another part of the strip is disposed between the lapel. T

lapel and the coat, thereby preventing folding or crumpling of the lapel. T T l T r In order to assist in preserving the roll of the lapel or revers the said appliance may be curved longitudinally and/or laterally, that is to say it may be arched in one or both directions.

That part of the strip between the lapel and the body of the coat may beprovided with a ahook or the like to engage the edge of the lapel between the ends, to prevent displacement of the appliance when it has been fitted on to the TTThe foldable extension may be symmetrical with the lower part of the strip.

Hook-like parts may be formed on the free edges of the foldable extension and on the cor- This T respondinglysymmetrical lower partTof the strip, these hook-like parts coinciding in the folded position and serving to hook over the lower edge of, the lapel to prevent slipping of the device in use. T

The said appliance may be made of sheet material, for example cardboard, millboard, fibre, metal, wood, for example multi-ply wood, a

, moulded sheet material, for example an artificial resin or other composition, canvas, felt, plaited straw, leather or any other suitable sheet material. Y

When the appliance is made of sufficiently stiff material it may carry a substance, such as camphor, perfume or the like, which may beenclosed in a container carried on the appliance or may be directly fixed to the appliance. T T

It is obvious that a pair of such appliances is necessary for each coat and that they may be used with or without a hanger.

InTa modification, a pair of appliances constructed as above described may be affixed to or iii form part of a coat hanger of any suitable construction.

The invention illustrated in the accompanya ing drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a preferred form of a device made in accordance with the present invention, said device being shown in open posi- T tion; and

Fig. 2 .is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing thedevice in folded condition. 1

Referring to the drawing, the device consis of an elongated strip a preferably of fibrous material, said strip having one of its longitudinal edges extending in a straight line throughout the major portion of its length while the opposite edge is incurved or of concave formation. Near the upper end of thecurved edge a slot 0 is cut in the strip, said slot being so formed as to provide a tongue w to engage over the top edge of the lapel of a coat.

Projecting from the lower portion of the straight edge of the strip at is a lateral extension e adapted to be folded onscore lines it to assist in maintaining the rollTof the lapel. The strip a is provided at the lower end of its curved edge with a curved slot forming a hook portion v and the extension e is provided with a similar hook portion so located that when the extension is T folded over on the strip a the hook portions '1; of the strip and extension will be disposed in overlying position as shown in Fig. 2, while when the extension is unfolded it will be symmetrical with the lower portion of the strip, as shown in Fig. 1. The strip a is further provided with a slot extending inward from its curved edge, and the extension e is provided at its upper portion with a tongue if so disposed as to engage the slot 8 thereby to maintain the extension in folded position on the strip a.

In the use of the device itis first bent inward along the lines it and the extension e folded over so as to overlie the strip a. The tongue is then engaged with the slot .9 as shown in Fig. 2 so as to maintain the device in folded condition. The device thus folded is inserted with its straight edge inward between the lapel and the body of the garment. The operator then exerts a slight outward pressure on the tongue to and the double hook u so as to cause the tongue to overlie the top edge of the lapel while the hooks v engage and overlie the lapel near the lower end of its free edge, whereby the device is maintained in position. It will be observed that the bending of the device along all the lines a will cause a slight' bulge between the extension e and the main' portion of the strip a whereby the extension is spaced from the strip throughout the greater portion of its area and Will thus present a is on the outside of the lapel.

The device forming the subject of the present invention may, as above suggested, be aifixed to,

or form part of, a coat hanger of any suitableconstruction.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

1. A roll-retaining device for coat lapels, comprising a strip of flexible material of suitable form to be disposed between the lapel and the body of the coat, said strip having means for engaging the lapel thereby to retainthe strip in position, and a lateral extension foldable on said strip, said extension and strip being. bent so as to maintain the extension spaced from the strip throughout the major portion of its area.

2. A roll-retaining device for coat lapels, comprising a strip of flexible material of suitable form to be disposed between the lapel and the prising a strip of flexible material of suitable form to be disposed between the lapel and the body of the coat, said strip having a tongue disposed in position to engage the top edge of the lapel and a hook portion to engage the lapelnear the lower end of its free edge, and-an integral lateral extension carried by said strip in symmetrical relation to its lower portion, said extension being foldable on to said lower portion'of the strip and having a hook portion in overlying relation to the hook portion of the strip, and a cooperating tongue and slot connection carried by said strip and extension for locking them together at one portion thereof, the extensionbeing so folded that it will normally be spaced from the strip throughout the major portion of its area thereby to resist flattening pressure on the coat lapel.

ABRAHAM CHERN'E'. 

